Welcome Home: Liberated by Grace

 ...despite being embraced, despite being forgiven, despite being welcomed home, despite being given freedom, we often refuse to accept freedom, we struggle to live with the scars, we are tormented by our guilt, we don't accept the grace we've been gifted... 

When the younger son humbly crawled back home, he expected rejection or to be relegated to a slave, yet the father ran to him, hugged him, and gave him full status as his heir. He expected nothing but received everything. The older brother wanted to see his rebellious sibling suffer, but instead, he watched as his little bro was given a loving embrace and a party. Despite whatever negativity he was telling himself and the spiteful vibes he was getting from his bitter brother, he was free to live in the liberating grace he'd just been gifted. 

Jesus was crucified and rose again so we could be liberated by grace, but it can be difficult to live in that grace, because of the lies we tell ourselves and the messages we hear from others. None of us deserve this chance, not one of us deserves this gift, as the word "grace" literally means we have received "unmerited favor". Our merciful Savior was executed as a criminal so we could have liberation, and even though we don't deserve his grace, he doesn't want us to mope around feeling too guilty and too afraid to live in it.

Yet, that's what we do, I know I do! Even though we've been set free, we struggle to live in the grace we've been gifted. We feel the enormous pressure of our own trauma, we hear the endless voices that are pulling us down, so we feel we're not worthy and think we're imposters. Even though God has liberated us, set us free, and has made us worthy, it's hard for us to live in that confidence.

I've worked with those experiencing homelessness for a few decades now, and what saddens me is how often people believe they aren't eligible for God's forgiveness, mercy, and grace. In tears, they weep over the rugged journey they've traveled along and are often still on. They are convinced that their prison time, drug abuse, sexual exploits, drinking patterns, gang affiliations, violence, or just the mere fact they're without a home has made them ineligible. They have been recipients of rejection in churches, so they sadly think God has the exact same opinion of them. I have seen the tears and heard the prayers, as they cry for mercy, yet they cower in fear of eternal rejection, not knowing their humble approach to God is what makes them righteous in his sight. As they feel they're outside of God's loving scope of mercy, the message I feel obliged to share is "you are loved, you are worthy, come to him, embrace your liberty, and walk in it."     

We, as followers of Jesus, need to embrace who he embraces and say "welcome home" as he says "welcome home". I long for the day when I speak to prisoners or those experiencing homelessness, and I don't have to hear horror stories of how Christians judged and rejected them. I long for the day, when we're known, again, for our love, especially those who are poor and disenfranished. I long for a new day when our light will shine brightly.

Jesus wants us to confidently live in this grace we have received. He wants us to confidently live in the liberation he has gifted us. He wants us to move in confidence because he has saved us and set us free. Knowing his readers' tendencies to fall under old oppressive yokes, the Apostle Paul had to remind them: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." We all need this reminder, I know I do! Jesus died and rose again so we can raise our fists and march forward knowing we're free. Despite how hard our circumstances are, despite what we've done, despite who we are, we are people who've been accepted into God's Kingdom, we are part of his family, we've been liberated, we are loved, giving us the confidence and power to bring the good news, love, and liberation to those we come in contact with. 

Jesus runs to us and says "welcome home." We have been liberated by his grace, which means all the things we hold up as barriers have been smashed and destroyed by the liberating work of the cross. Out of love, he says "come to me", he tells us not to worry about the way we look, or our weaknesses, or our pasts, because he'll take what we perceive as twisted and distorted and make us "more than conquerors". Out of love, he runs to us and says "welcome home", letting us know we're not condemned, and that nothing can separate us from his love. Out of love, he runs to us and says "welcome home", takes us into his family, and floods us with his eternally generous gifts. 

Live in his embrace. Don’t fall under what folk say. Don’t believe the lies. Cling onto the truth which sets us free. We have an all-powerful Savior who gave himself as an example, who has empowered and liberated us with all our flaws and weaknesses, so we can follow him and bring his loving liberation to this twisted oppressive world. 

Join me, a flawed individual who's been liberated by grace, in accepting his gift, and trying to live fully in the gift I've been given. 

• this blog post is the concluding part of a 4 part series, stemming from some of my thoughts about the Parable of the Prodigal Son (or the Forgiving Merciful Father).
• Part 1: Welcome Home!
• Part 2: Welcome Home: Embracing The Unembraceable!
• Part 3: Welcome Home: Forgiving The Unforgivable!